Chapter Nineteen: Military Discipline That No One Dares to Enforce

[Thanks to the readers: songqunn, 30 times 99//211 for your reward~]

The Henan soldiers under Chen Yongfu’s command still restrained themselves somewhat in the face of their fellow villagers. Even if their hands were not clean, they would not stoop to pillage, arson, or murder.

But the troops led by Ding Qirui were either the core Qin sons in the Supervision Banner Battalion or Zuo Liangyu’s Huguang soldiers. No matter which, it meant even the faintest scruples of kinship and neighborliness were gone.

It was easy to imagine, therefore, what a picture of ruinous discipline these foreign official troops presented in Henan. Especially now, with rebel bandits assailing the city outside and panic seizing the hearts within, both order and military discipline had crumbled all the more.

Hearing Gao Mingheng’s words, sharp as needles in velvet, Ding Qirui’s smile froze for a moment before he finally spoke: “The Supervision Banner Battalion has always taken this as its guiding principle.”

“And what of the Huguang soldiers? Is discipline among them simply ignored?” Gao Mingheng had barely begun to voice his protest when Zhu Gongxiao signaled him with a glance.

Gao Mingheng calmed at once, sighing inwardly, knowing Ding Qirui had already conceded. To press the matter further would be pointless. After all, Ding Qirui feared that too strict a suppression of discipline might spark mutiny.

Sensing the disappointment of his two colleagues, Ding Qirui, aware of his own dubious conduct, paused for a moment and tried to salvage his reputation: “Governor Yang Wenyue is stationed in Runing. Perhaps we should send word to Runing to discuss the matter of allied forces, while petitioning the court to coordinate the encirclement by several provinces. Especially since Sun the Grand Governor of the Three Borders in Shaanxi is famed for bandit suppression and ought to be united with us.”

Gao Mingheng’s heart sank.

This was little more than empty words.

If Yang Wenyue were to lend his strength, Ding Qirui could not simply sit on his hands and refuse to move Zuo Liangyu. As for Sun Chuanting, accepting the defeated troops of Shaanxi would take time to restore the situation. If he were to come, those battered Shaanxi soldiers might fall apart as soon as they crossed Tongguan.

Gao Mingheng and Zhu Gongxiao remained silent.

Ding Qirui forced a laugh: “I will send further correspondence to mobilize the Huguang and Sichuan forces. Hmm, for a famous general such as Zuo Liangyu, I must consider carefully how to word my letters.”

Hearing Ding Qirui’s barely veiled dismissal, Gao Mingheng, Zhu Gongxiao, and Chen Yongfu, relegated to the background, all rose to their feet: “We shall not trouble the Grand Supervisor’s contemplation any longer.”

“All for the sake of the nation—how could it be called trouble… Ha, my leg is somewhat inconvenient today, so I won’t see you off far.”

…

Upon leaving the Grand Supervisor’s mansion, Gao Mingheng heaved a heavy sigh: “The situation in Henan—our meager strength will not suffice to turn the tide.”

Zhu Gongxiao frowned: “We must not speak lightly of giving up. Let us petition the court again, urge… that Grand Supervisor.”

Hearing Prince Zhou say this, Gao Mingheng could only shake his head. With such a superior and companion, no matter how much they wished to complain, they could only accept and do their utmost to salvage Kaifeng from the looming calamity.

“Yang Wenyue is loyal to the crown, and his main commander Hu Dawei comes from a family of loyalists, many of whom have died at the hands of the rebels. Their will to fight must be resolute. For now… we can only hope Zuo Liangyu will truly fight a battle in earnest.” Gao Mingheng thought this, but his heart was uneasy—he could not shake the sense that it was unreliable.

Xiangyang.

At that moment, the much-discussed Zuo Liangyu in Kaifeng was in Xiangyang, cursing furiously: “Damn it, when you need me, it’s all honeyed words, relying on me to risk my life for you. When you don’t, you kick me aside like a battered teapot!”

“Fight the rebel bandits? Fine, but where are the rations, where are the weapons, where are the recruits?”

“They just want me to die on the battlefield, and end up like that fool Cao Wenzhao, with my whole family wiped out!”

Having vented his anger, Zuo Liangyu flung Ding Qirui’s official letter to the ground and sank into his tiger-skin command chair, muttering, “Fifty thousand rebel bandits—how am I supposed to fight?”

Zuo Liangyu sprawled in his chair, sitting quietly. Under the glow of tallow candles, his once-handsome face took on a more somber cast.

Yet his thoughts refused to settle.

The wavering flame seemed to set his heart oscillating as well.

Zuo Liangyu had risen from the ranks as a common soldier, orphaned young, raised by an uncle, not even knowing his mother’s surname. During the Xuzhou mutiny, his entire family was slaughtered, only his son Zuo Menggeng surviving. This imbued Zuo Liangyu’s character with a certain coldness.

Perhaps due to his background in the Guan Ning Army, Zuo Liangyu kept a tight grip on his soldiers’ resources. To face the so-called fifty thousand strong army, the coalition of Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai that had defeated him several times, Zuo Liangyu was cautious and deeply concerned.

For a long while, as the tallow candle burned ever weaker, Zuo Menggeng entered.

“Father, Grand Supervisor Ding has sent word again,” Zuo Menggeng said softly.

Zuo Liangyu kept his eyes closed and grunted through his nose: “Mm.”

If it were any other officer or staff, they would likely have been too intimidated to speak. But Zuo Menggeng, as Zuo Liangyu’s son, trusted and favored in the army, asked again: “Father, shall we prepare to march north? After all, the army cannot move without first securing provisions.”

“That is the right course,” Zuo Liangyu replied, ignoring his son’s question and instead asking, “What news from the capital that I asked you to investigate?”

Hearing this, Zuo Menggeng pondered briefly and said, “News from the capital reports that the ministers are discussing the rescue of Minister Hou. It is said the Emperor is inclined to act.”

Zuo Liangyu exhaled, unsure whether it was a sigh or a breath to steel himself: “After all, we are soldiers and officers of the Ming court. Very well, prepare for the march north.”

“And the provisions?” Zuo Menggeng looked troubled.

Zuo Liangyu replied carelessly, “Do your best to gather them. If not possible, we’ll forage along the way.”

“Yes… Father.” Zuo Menggeng answered quietly.

To forage along the way meant to requisition grain locally. If the counties cooperated, all the better. If not… then another method—by sword and blade—would be needed to solve the logistics.

Yes, on the territory still controlled by the Ming government.

On the second day of the fifth month in the fifteenth year of Chongzhen’s reign.

On this day, the peasant army launched its third assault on Kaifeng.

Li Zicheng stationed his personal troops at Yanli Village, while Luo Rucai arrayed his forces at Hengdi Post.

At Yanli Village, Li Zicheng stood atop a high platform, watching as General He Jin led some three thousand peasant soldiers in the attack.

These three thousand soldiers, though armed with long spears or short swords at their waists, were arrayed in a crooked, disorderly formation, erupting in noisy confusion. Only He Jin, with a hundred or so riders beside him, galloped along the flanks, shouting and roaring, with five or six hundred veteran soldiers wielding whips to keep order, barely holding the ranks together.